Spring-wheel.



0; J. OLSON.

SPRING WHEEL.

APPLIOATIOH FILED JA1T.19, 1912.

1,063,465, Patented June 3, 1913.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO J. OLSON, OF COURTENAY, NORTH DAKOTA.

SPRING-WHEEL.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 3, 1913.

Application filed January 19, 1912. Serial No. 672,167.

-This invention relates to improvements in vehicle wheels and particularly'to that class termed spring wheels. Its primary object is to provide a simple and compact construction which will afford the desired resiliency without the use of inflated tires,

and at the same time a strong and efiicient structure for the purpose for which it may be employed.

My invention further contemplates the provision of resilient means to permit the necessary circumferential movement of the tread member in cooperation with supporting means for the latter and the rim of the wheel.

For a full understanding of the present invention, reference is to be had to the following descritpion and to the accompanyingdrawings, in which' Figure l is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of a wheel constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view taken about on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the ole-- sure plate for the slots in the rim of the wheel; Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view taken about on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 showing the closure plate for the recesses in the hub, and Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view.-

taken about on the line 5-5 showing more clearly the circumferential rim casings.

Throughout the following detail description and .on the several figures of the drawin s, similar parts are referred to by like re erence characters.

Referring now to the drawings andspecifically describing the invention, a. wheel constructed in accordance therewith comprises essentially a hub 1 formed with side plates 2, the rim 3, and a plurality of rlgid spokes 4 secured at their lower ends between the plates 2 by means of bolts 5 and at their opposite ends to the rim 3 by riveting or some similar manner. Preferably mounted,

between the rigid spokes 4 are located the radial spoke members 5 consisting in each 8 through which the spoke members 6 pass and on the upper surface of the rim are mounted the closure plates 9 which efiectually cover the recesses 8 and prevent the collection of dust and dirt therein. The clo- The outer ends of' sure plates 9 are provided with openings .therethrough' through which the spoke members 6 pass and are slidably mounted so as to permit circumferential movement of said members as will be hereinafter more fully disclosed. Similar. closure plates 1Q are slidably mounted on the upper portion of the side plates 2, the casings 5 passing therethrough and the plates performing the same function as the plates 9 in reference to preventing the collection of dust and dirt in the openings between the plates 2 of the hub.

Located at opposite sides of the rigid spokes 4 and secured to the rim 3 by means of fastenings 11" are circumferential rim casings 11, havin mounted therein cylinders 12, said cylinders containing spiral springs 13 seated at their inner ends against the opposite sides of the spokes 4.

Designated by the numeral 14 are lateral plungers which bear against the outer ends of the springs 13 at one end, while at their other end they bear against the tubular casings 5".

' As will be apparent the resilient means just described will readily permit the necessary circumferential movement of the tread member -7 in the use of the wheel.

'As will be noted from Figs. 3and 4 the closure plates 9 and 10 are provided w th slots 15 and 15 respectively through which screws 16 and 16' pass and by means of which screws the plates are slidably'secured to the rim 3-.and the hub 1 of the wheel.

The tread member 7 is preferably formed with a corrugated surface to'prevent sllpping and the annular edge portlons are provided with a plurality of flexible locking projections 17 which are adapted to be in or slmilar fastenings.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a spring wheel, the combination of a hub, a r1m, rigid spokes connecting the .15 ngs therein, a tread member space openfrom y the rim, a series of spoke members for supporting the tread member, said spoke memhub and rim, said hub and rim having bers comprising plungers pivotally connected at their outer ends to the tread member and passing through the rim openings aforesaid, tubular casings in which the plungers are mounted, pivotally secured to the hub and passing through the hub openings, springs in said casings on which the plungers are seated, resillent means carried by the rim between the rigid spokes and casings to permit circumferential movement of the spoke members, coverings for the openings aforesaid having slots therein, and fastening means for said coverings passing through the slots, whereby the circumferential movement of the spoke members may be limited.

2. In a sprin wheel, the combination oftween the-plates of said hub and engaging the rim at the other end, springs mounted in said casings, plungers seated atone end against the springs and assing through the openings in the rim amf'connected at their other end to the tread member to support the same, circumferential rim casings secured to the rim at opposite sides of the rigid spoke members, springs mounted in said rim casings, and lateral plungers hearing at one end against the springs in the rim and at their other end against the tubular casings aforesaid to permit circumferential movement of the spoke members.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OTTO J. OLSON.

Witnesses:

GEO. "E. BRASTRUP, A. M. CHIDLEY. 

